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| Field name |
Value |
| Collection Reference Number
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GLC02437.00484
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| From Archive Folder
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The Henry Knox Papers [0015] September-December 1776
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| Title
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Henry Knox to Lucy Knox with war news of plundering
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| Date
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8 November 1776
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| Author
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Knox, Henry (1750-1806)
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| Recipient
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Knox, Lucy Flucker
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| Document Type
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Correspondence
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| Content Description
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Comments on their problems corresponding and reaffirms his love for her. Indicates that the British have stopped pursuing them and their intentions are unknown. Denounces British and Hessian plundering. Describes the Scottish (Highlanders) as the most civil group in the enemy's army, perhaps because they see a commonality with the Americans. Affirms honor of the American efforts to be free. Lists the information about a brigade under General Alexander Leslie that was recently intercepted, including 152 dead.
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| Subjects
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Battle of White Plains Revolutionary War Revolutionary War General Military History Love Letters Global History and Civics Hessians Wartime Pillaging and Destruction Freedom and Independence Death Battle
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| People
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Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Knox, Lucy Flucker (1756-1824) Leslie, Alexander (ca. 1740-1794)
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| Place written
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White Plains, New York
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| Theme
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The American Revolution; Women in American History
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| Sub-collection
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The Henry Knox Papers
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| Copyright
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The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
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| Module
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Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
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| Transcript
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Show/hide Download PDF [draft] Camp near White plains Novr. 8 1776 My dearest & only Love I yesterday received [struck: your belov'd epist] the epistle written with your belov'd hand on the 1st Novr - A temporary cessation [struck: of happiness] [inserted: of correspondence] between two persons so extremely interested in each others welfare as we are is a cessation of happiness Yes my Lucy I look upon my connection with you as the most kindly circumstance of my Life & only regret that the calls of my country prevent the enjoyment of that social happiness which we find in each other - sweet thought! to so firmly & so mutually Love each other - may the evils of ten thousand Years [inserted: Condemnation] befall the person who interrupts it - Our Enemy have retir'd some miles from us with what intentions are unknown to us, the conjectures of Yesterday are still in force, - Wherever they turn their Steps, [strikeout] destruction over takes the poor inhabitants - the Hessians plunder all before them, the British Troops are not allow'd to plunder but do much of underhandidly The highlanders are the most civil people in the whole army to those unfortunates of ours who fall into their hands - [struck: whether] I beleive these mistaken men imagine a similarity in our circumstances & theirs of forty five - they are mistaken indeed they are [2] to what family they should be subject - to what tyrant they should pay tribute - we are contending for the possession of what hard [strikeout] industry has [struck: put us] bestow'd - contending to be Free, contending for Life & Liberty - [struck: &] Contending for Empire - May that almighty Governor of the universe who holdest the great equal scale of justice smile on our efforts & crown them with success - Lt Colo Leslie now General Leslie Commanded a Brigade which was in the Battle on Monday the 28th Oct - one of my people Yesterday pick'd up a Return made to Genl Howe only which stands thus - 1 Lt Colo Kill'd 2 Captains do 1 Lt. do 1 Ensign 22 [Lt?] Sergeant do 22 Rank & file ditto - 2 Capts Wounded - 3 Lts do 12 Sergeants do 109 Rank & file - total Kill'd & wounded 152 - This is in only one Brigade they had between four & five hundred in the whole - I wrote you Yesterday & the day before & the day before that - you enquire...
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